Junior Master Gardener program helping kids grow

I have enjoyed gardening since I was a child digging through the rich, black dirt in Wisconsin, creating wildflower arrangements as I hunted through our acreage for the best specimens in Indiana and making plans for my own secret garden (one of my favorite books).

I took advantage of the 4-H program to learn how to plant and care for vegetables, strawberries and flowers. Children today have another great opportunity to learn more about gardening with other children and participate in all kinds of fun garden-related activities through the Junior Master Gardener program.

My son is fortunate enough to be enrolled in a class with nine other third- through fifth-graders this year at the Roper Mountain Science Center. In the two weeks since the class has started, I have been impressed with the array of gardening experts they have brought in to teach the classes. The class had a chance to squeeze the goo from an aloe vera plant to make lotion in a lesson about important uses of plants, started a garden journal and learned about the water cycle — just to name a few activities.

The program held at the Roper Mountain Science Center meets January through May on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Each week, students complete several in-class projects. For each project completed in class, students can choose from one of several related activities to do at home. Not only do the home activities reinforce what was learned in class much in the same way homework does, but it also encourages family involvement. The home activities allow parents and siblings to participate, as well, and possibly spur more interest in gardening by other family members. At the end of the session, the children will be awarded Junior Master Gardener certification.

Junior Master Gardener is an international gardening program of the university extension network. The program combines group and independent activities that explore many facets of gardening, including career exploration. The program provides opportunities for service learning and is coordinated to state teaching standards as an added bonus.

Many, but not all, states have a JMG coordinator. South Carolina is fortunate enough to have one, and right here at Clemson University. Our state coordinator is Dr. Kellye Rembert. She can be reached at (864) 656-3848 or krember@clemson.edu. If you are interested in starting a group or finding a group already in existence, she is the one to contact.

Each master gardener group is as unique as each instructor is. While there is a curriculum and student handbook to follow, the program allows for a lot of flexibility by allowing instructors to choose from a variety of in-class projects and by and allowing students to choose from various at-home projects. Meeting times, places and length of meetings can vary widely.

The JMG Web site (jmgkids.us) is a great resource for parents, teachers and budding gardeners even if they are not enrolled in the program. The kid zone offers such tidbits as how to make your own seed tape out of toilet paper and games to learn about plant parts and insects.

JMG level 1 is for grades three through five, level 2 is for grades six through eight. Level 3 is yet to be developed.

The goal of the program is to allow children to interact and bond with nature — something that is much needed in the age of electronic everything. The Web site says JMG is, "a learning experience to provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment and cultivate the mind."

Now what's not to love about that? Us old gardeners won't be around forever; let's plant the seeds in our children and grandchildren.

Laura Stokes is a Master Gardener and author of The Southern Wildlife Garden. She can be reached at laurapstokes@